Reenforced gummed tape



Patented Dec. 17, 1935 BEENFOBCED GUM'MED TAPE Ferdinand W. Humphner, to Mid- States Gummed a corporation of Illinois Oak Park, Ill., aeeiznor Paper Co., Chicago, Ill.,

Application January 15, 1934, Serial No. 706,731

8 Claims.

This invention relates to reenforced gummed tape or binder tape. 'I'he tape is particularly `useful for forming a hinge on containers as, for example, a manufacturers hinge for a corrugated paper box. Other uses'xwill be obvious.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a new simple and sturdy reenforced binder strip which is preferably gummed on 'one side and adapted to be applied to box-joints, etc. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in certain preferred embodiments, by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a broken perspective view of my reenforced gummed tape applied to a portion of the corner of a corrugated paper box; Fig. 2, a broken, enlarged plan view of the stitching as it appears on the outer side of the paper strip; Fig. 3, a broken plan view of stitching on the inner side of the paper strip; Fig. 4, a perspective developed view of a modied form of gummed tape embodying my invention; and Fig. 5, a broken plan view of another form of reenforced tape employing my invention. l Y Broadly, the reenforced tape comprises a suit- I able base or strip of brous material, such as paper, across the grain of which a reenforcing strip of spun or unspun fibres is sewed.

In the preferred form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, A and A' designate two sides of a corrugated paper box, which are brought together at their free ends; and B designates a binder strip or hinge securing the sides A and A' together.

The binder strip cr hinge B comprises any suitable paper sheet I0, such as kraft paper, with parallel rows of transverse stitches II. I prefer to arrange the rows I I in groups of closely spaced stitch rows, each of the groups being separated by a substantially wide intervening space I2. The intervening space I2 is preferably several times wider than the space between the individual rows II. For ordinary shipping boxes, I have found that a satisfactory reenforcing tape is provided where the stitch rows in a group are about one-halfinch apart, and the space between the groups is about one and one-half or two inches wide. The spacing can be varied Within rather wide limits, the important factor being that the stitch rows within a group are brought closely enough together so that one row may yield enough to be supported by an adjacent row. In other lwords, the spacing described above checks any tendency of the tape to tear, by bunching together the several rows in the group, so that the combined strength of the stitch rows is simultaneously presented against the tearing action.

Any suitable form of stitch may be employed. I prefer, however, to use the zig-zag lock-stitch illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, a form of stitch which is 5 well known in the art. Instead, however, of following the usual practice of using stitch threads of substantially the same size, I have found that a much better reenforcement can be obtained by using a. bobbin thread I3 which is greater in size 10 than the upper tension thread Il. The bobbin thread may be simply a large size thread or cord, v or it may be a composite thread including a number of small threads like the upper tension thread III. Using the ordinary lock-stitch movement on 15 a zig-zag machine, with a large size bobbin thread underneath, the upper tension thread tends to pierce the outer edge portions of the bobbin thread and a stitch is formed having the appearance illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 for one side of the 20 sheet. On the opposite sideof the sheet, a V- shaped stitch is formed by the thread I4, which 'forms a thin reenforcement to which the adhesive may be satisfactorily applied. The thin stitching 'I 4, as illustrated in Fig. 3, does not cause 25 a bulging of the paper strip when it is applied to the box surface; and the heavy reenforcing thread I3, being on the exterior side of the strip, does not interfere with the attachment of the strip to the box. The lock-stitch prevents the heavy bobbin 30 thread from slipping transversely of the strip, and thereby causes two or more closely spaced rows of stitching to yield together so as to utilize their combined strength.

The thread employed may be treated with 35 latex, wax, or soft gum to increase its strength.

I find that the treating of the thread with latex in accordance with the usual practice in forming a latex-covered thread is very desirable because the latex, after the stitching operation, tends to 4o bunch around the thread openings and form a seal for the openings.

The stitching may be carried out on a pregummed strip or, if desired, the gum may be applied after the stitching is finished. An advan- 45 tage of the latter sequence of steps is that the gum tends to seal the openings formed during the stitching operation. Also, the V-shaped stitches on the inner side of the paper present a wide surface to which the gum adheres.

The paper may be treated in any desired way. For example, the surface may be coated before the stitching operation with lacquer, shellac. casein, rubber composition, etc.

In the form of invention illustrated in Fig. 4, 66

I employ a central sheet I! of kraft paper having thereon transverse rows o1' stitching I6 of any suitable Vform. In the illustration givenrthe stitching is the same as that illustrated in Figs. l to 3. Sheet l5 is enclosed between two other paper sheets I 'i and I8, and permanently secured thereto by adhesive, and preferably by a flexible adhesive, such as rubber composition, latex, asphalt, etc. To the exterior surface of sheet I8, there is shown applied a layer of gum I9 by which the composite tape can be attached to a box wall. 'I'his product may be waterproofed, if desired, by coating the outside (ungummed) surface with a moisture-resistant coating.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5, the paper sheet 20 is provided with a series of transverse strips of flat tape 2| and the fiat tape is sewed by stitches 22 to the paper. Preferably, the stitches extend well toward the edge of the tape. 'Ihe flat tape may be either spun or woven, or fabricated by connecting fibres lying side by side, by means of adhesive, etc. and without employing cross threads.

While I have shown specific reinforcing stitching and a specic form of tape, it will be understood that other stitches which are suitable for the purpose may be employed, and other forms of reinforcing strips sewed to the paper. The paper sheet reenforced with tape or other means may be enclosed between sheets as illustrated in Fig. 4, or it may be secured to but one of such sheets.

While in the illustration given, I have shown all of the stitches and reenforcing mem'bers'running transversely o'f the strip, it will be understood that cross-stitches or reenforcements may be employed when desired for resisting transverse tearing. v

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should 'be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A reenforced tape, comprising a paper strip, lock-thread stitching extending across said strip, one of the threads employed being larger than the other thread, and adhesive on one side of 5 said paper.

2. A reenforced tape, comprising a paper strip, two-thread stitching extending across said strip, one of said threads being much larger than the other and extending only along one side of the strip, and adhesive on the side of the strip opposite the large thread.

3. A reenforced tape, comprising a paper strip, lock-thread stitching extending across said strip and consisting of a heavy bobbin thread lyingl on one side of the strip and a small upper tension thread securing said bobbin thread to the sheet, and adhesive on the side of the strip opposite the bobbin thread.

4. A reenforced tape, comprising a paper strip, a reenforcing cord extending across said strip,'and stitching securing said cord td said strip.

5. A reenforced tape, comprising a paper web, reenforcing tape strips extending across said web, 25 and stitching securing said tape strips to said web.

6. A reenforced tape, comprising a paper strip, parallel rows of stitches extending across said strip, said rows being arranged in groups o'f 30 closely spaced rows separated by relatively large spaces.

7. A reenforced tape, comprising a paper strip, equipped on one side with gum, and transverse rows of stitching, said rows being arranged in groups of closely related rows and said groups being widely spaced apart.

8. A reenforced tape, comprising a paper strip provided on one side with gum, transverse rows of lock-stitching, said rows being arranged in 40 closely related but spaced "apart groups along said paper strip.

FERDINAND W. HUMPHNER. 

